At Athena Care Homes ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our residents is a top priority. One aspect of this is creating a comfortable and secure environment, especially during sleep. While bed rails might seem like a logical solution for preventing falls, there are important reasons why we have made the informed decision not to use them in our homes except in rare, exceptional circumstances.

Bed rails, often designed to prevent falls, can actually pose significant risks to residents. Some potential dangers include –

• Entrapment – bed rails can create spaces where a resident’s head, neck, or limbs may become trapped, leading to serious injuries or even suffocation.
• Injury during transfer – residents may attempt to climb over bed rails, increasing the risk of falls and injuries during transfers to and from the bed.
• Restricted movement – bed rails can restrict a resident’s movement, making it difficult for them to reposition themselves comfortably or access necessary items.
• Increased restraint – the use of bed rails can inadvertently promote restraint, which goes against principles of resident autonomy and dignity in care. We don’t want our residents to feel confined to bed.

We do take your loved one’s safety very seriously and take a number of different steps to ensure their safety without using a bed rail.

We carry out a robust fall risk assessment before any resident is admitted and at regular intervals during their stay with us. Conducting thorough assessments to identify residents at risk of falls allows our team to implement personalised interventions tailored to each individual’s needs.

Simple adjustments such as removing tripping hazards and ensuring adequate lighting can significantly reduce the risk of falls.

Our care teams have all undergone training to give them the knowledge and skills needed to support residents safely, including techniques for assisting with transfers and repositioning.

The Athena approach to promoting safety and comfort

In lieu of bed rails, we employ a range of alternative strategies to enhance resident safety and comfort. These alternatives prioritise individualised care and promote independence while minimising the risk of falls and injuries and include:

• Bed alarms – devices that emit a sound or signal when a resident attempts to leave the bed. These alarms alert staff to assist the resident, reducing the risk of falls without restricting movement or autonomy.
• Low beds – Lowering the height of beds reduces the risk of injuries from falls while still allowing residents to get in and out of bed independently. Low beds are particularly beneficial for residents at risk of falls or those with mobility challenges.
• Bed positioning – Proper positioning of the bed within the room can minimise the risk of falls and injuries. Placing the bed away from hazards such as furniture, sharp edges, or uneven flooring promotes a safer sleeping environment for residents.
• Mattress selection – choosing the appropriate mattress for each resident’s needs is crucial for promoting comfort and reducing the risk of pressure ulcers and falls. Options include pressure-relieving mattresses, which distribute weight more evenly and reduce the likelihood of skin breakdown.
• Individualised care plans – these take into account each resident’s unique needs, preferences, and abilities. By incorporating specific interventions to address fall risk factors such as mobility limitations, cognitive impairment, and medication side effects, care teams can proactively prevent falls while supporting resident autonomy.
• Assistive devices – Mobility aids such as walkers and canes provide support and stability for residents during transfers and ambulation. These devices help residents maintain balance and reduce the risk of falls without resorting to restrictive measures like bed rails.

If you have any questions at all about our use of bed rails please do reach out to the teams at your care home and they will be able to discuss with you.